making a tank? help

[ziku1]

i was going to make a matrix system for my sump filter
( ie. just a tank with a divide in the middle)
i was going to make it

50cmx40cmx50cm
(lengthx widthxheight) aboiut 100 litres

if anyone has ever built a tank before could they please tell me if i would need to add a brace on the top of the tank (permanent lid stuck on the top of the tank)

all help would be appreciated

thanks

[wickedglass]

depends on how thick the glass. if it's under 10mm thick I'd definitely put some kind of strut in place or the glass will bow out.

[ziku1]

i will be using 6mm glass
and it will be filled with mainly bioballs
so it wont be as heavy as one completely filled with water

[samir]

its best to over-engineer and be on the safe side, you could put 4 strips of 3cm long 6mm glass about 90% of the lenght of the side.

[Phlipper]

Yes it is I guess better to over engineer, but really with 6 mm glass and a fixed centre divider and permanent lid it is already engineered very strongly and that is all and more than you need. I have made about 40 tanks now and most are out of 6mm glass, and that is quite Ok up to about 90cm in length, yours will be fine.

[samir]

Phil how high would you go with 6mm with say a 60LX60D ?

[Phlipper]

I'd be happy to go to 60 cm high, no more though, depending on how much from front to back as well. My biggest tanks within the fish room are 70 cm wide by 60cm high by 60cm front to back and all in 6 mm glass, and have been great for about 8 years now.

[RichVic]

I've got some 60cmx60cm x50cmhigh breeding and growing out tanks - all in
6mm glass made by an expert (never made one before) Glazier! all working for me without a problem - Fingers crossed!

[Phlipper]

Yep all should be fine.............with the exception of the aquariasts worst nightmare..........earth quakes :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :lol:

[ryeguy]

I survived the '95 earthquake in Kobe...First thing I did was jump up and stop the tank from falling on me....Most of the water was gone but i managed to save most of the fish that got tossed out....